Army Footballers Take On Dorchester Town Tonight

Dorchester FC are facing a rather different kind of opposition tonight (10th December) at the Avenue Stadium.

The team are holding a special charity match against a Dorset Army X1 at 7:45pm to remember when a hundred years ago British and German soldiers stopped fighting to play football in a Christmas Truce.

Sargent Joel Thorpe is playing centre forward tonight and says his side won't be going easy on the Magpies.

He told Wessex FM: "I think we'll give them a good game. By the looks of it we've got a pretty strong squad here. A few of us have watched them play a few times so we know what they're capable of."

There will also be a short service with music from the Royal Artillery Band and a military wives choir.

The Club's Community Director Allen Knott came up with the idea which is being supported by numerous local businesses: "I've been amazed at the momentum of the event; the support we've already received is wonderful. I think it is because the Christmas Truce is a story of the human spirit, of peace and of hope.

"This is an event for the whole community as we remember the men and women from this County who gave so much. We have lots of activities on the night, including a re-enactment and some wonderful Christmas music.

Outside the ground there will be a chance to see the First World War replica tank built for the film War Horse, there will also be a number of stalls and displays around the stadium.